Lamoille Canyon Scenic Overlook at Road's End
Lamoille Canyon Rd (upper end)
Lamoille, NV
Where the pavement runs out at 8,800 feet and the high country of the Rubies opens up in front of you.
The Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway climbs about twelve miles up into the Ruby Mountains and simply stops at Road's End, a broad overlook and trailhead cupped at roughly 8,800 feet in the head of the glacier-carved canyon. It is the natural climax of one of Nevada's finest mountain drives, the point where the pavement gives out and the raw high country takes over.
For many visitors this is as far as they go, and the view alone rewards the drive: sheer canyon walls, snowfields lingering near the peaks, and meadows dropping away below. For hikers, it is a gateway, the northern trailhead for the long Ruby Crest Trail and the launching point for shorter walks to alpine lakes.
What Guests Love
- The payoff view up the head of the glacier-carved canyon to the peaks
- Standing at the start of the famous Ruby Crest Trail
- Easy access to alpine lakes on short day hikes from the lot
- The cool, clear air at nearly 9,000 feet after the drive up
Worth Knowing
- The parking area fills on peak summer weekends, so arrive early
- The road up is snow-closed from roughly November through April or May
- At this elevation weather turns fast; carry layers even on warm days
- There is no water or food up here, so stock up in Lamoille or Elko first
Details
Lamoille, NV
Learn about Lamoille Canyon Scenic Overlook at Road's End
The end of the byway
The drive up Lamoille Canyon is a marvel in itself, winding around the base of towering Ruby Dome and climbing thousands of feet through the classic U-shaped, glacier-carved gorge. Road's End is where it all concludes, a parking area and overlook set in a natural amphitheater of rock, with interpretive panels explaining the glacial geology that shaped the scene.
Because the road is paved the whole way, this pocket of true alpine country is unusually easy to reach, no small thing in a mountain range that is otherwise rugged and remote. It is generally accessible from about May through October, before winter snow closes the upper canyon.
Trails from the top
Road's End is the northern terminus of the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail, a long, high route that runs for tens of miles along the spine of the Ruby Mountains through some of the most beautiful backcountry in the state. Thru-hikers set out from here into a world of alpine lakes, granite basins, and wide summit views.
Day hikers have gentler options too. Short trails climb to Island Lake and Lamoille Lake, cold alpine tarns set beneath the peaks, close enough to reach and return in a few hours. These walks give you the essence of the high Rubies, the wildflowers, the clear water, and the big sky, without committing to a multi-day trek.
The high Rubies around you
At this elevation the country is subalpine, with stands of limber pine, meadows of wildflowers in midsummer, and rock slopes above where marmots whistle and pikas dart. The Ruby Mountains are one of the only places to spot the introduced Himalayan snowcock, and mountain goats and golden eagles range the crest.
The seasons are compressed up here. Snow lingers into early summer, wildflowers peak in July and August, and by late September the aspens far below are turning and the first storms are dusting the peaks. Come prepared for sudden weather, because conditions at Road's End can differ sharply from the valley you left behind.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Lamoille
Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
The road you drove up
The twelve-mile paved climb through the glacier-carved canyon, lined with pullouts, waterfalls, and picnic spots.
Lamoille
About 12 miles down-canyon
A tiny ranching village at the canyon mouth, known for its photogenic little church framed by the Ruby Mountains.
Elko
About 32 miles northwest
The regional hub on Interstate 80, with the Western Folklife Center, the Cowboy Poetry Gathering, and full services.